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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Look to Spinal Tap for Lumbar Drain

Published on Wed Sep 21, 2005

Question: I can't find a code in CPT to describe placement of a lumbar drain. Should I use an unlisted-procedure code such as 28999?


Texas Subscriber
Answer: You are probably having a hard time finding the code because CPT terminology for this procedure doesn't match the language surgeons use to describe lumbar drain placement. The correct code is 62272 (Spinal puncture, therapeutic, for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid [by needle or catheter]).

Because there is a dedicated code for this procedure, you should not report an unlisted-procedure code such as 22899 (Unlisted procedure, spine) or 64999 (Unlisted procedure, nervous system).
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